Abstract
Background
Early mobility facilitated by physiotherapy has been shown to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in patients with hip fractures but its effect on HAP incidence in medical patients has not yet been studied.
Aim
To determine whether early mobility aided by physiotherapy reduces the incidence of HAP and length of stay in patients on medical wards.
Methods
One respiratory and one elderly care medicine ward in one hospital association in Birmingham, UK, received the ‘Early Mobility Bundle’. The bundle consisted of extra targeted physiotherapy and collaboration with ward staff to encourage and promote activity. The incidence of HAP, falls, pressure sores, length of stay (LOS) and activity level were then compared to two matched wards within the same hospital association.
Results
HAP incidence was significantly lower in the intervention group (P < 0.0001) and remained so after adjusting for confounders (P = 0.001). Activity levels were higher (P = 0.04) and patients' LOS was more likely to fall in the lowest quartile (OR: 1.44; P = 0.009) in the intervention group. There was no significant difference in other outcomes.
Conclusion
The Early Mobility Bundle demonstrates a promising method to reduce the incidence of HAP and to increase activity in medical inpatients.
Early mobility facilitated by physiotherapy has been shown to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in patients with hip fractures but its effect on HAP incidence in medical patients has not yet been studied.
Aim
To determine whether early mobility aided by physiotherapy reduces the incidence of HAP and length of stay in patients on medical wards.
Methods
One respiratory and one elderly care medicine ward in one hospital association in Birmingham, UK, received the ‘Early Mobility Bundle’. The bundle consisted of extra targeted physiotherapy and collaboration with ward staff to encourage and promote activity. The incidence of HAP, falls, pressure sores, length of stay (LOS) and activity level were then compared to two matched wards within the same hospital association.
Results
HAP incidence was significantly lower in the intervention group (P < 0.0001) and remained so after adjusting for confounders (P = 0.001). Activity levels were higher (P = 0.04) and patients' LOS was more likely to fall in the lowest quartile (OR: 1.44; P = 0.009) in the intervention group. There was no significant difference in other outcomes.
Conclusion
The Early Mobility Bundle demonstrates a promising method to reduce the incidence of HAP and to increase activity in medical inpatients.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 34-39 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | The Journal of hospital infection |
Volume | 88 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 20 Jun 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2014 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright © 2014 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Cross Infection
- Early Ambulation
- Female
- Great Britain
- Humans
- Incidence
- Length of Stay
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Physical Therapy Modalities
- Pneumonia
- Treatment Outcome
- Young Adult